MSU pollinator team lands nearly $1 million to improve landscapes for healthy pollinators

A team of Michigan State University entomologists will use a nearly $1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant to expand and enhance habitat for honey bees, wild bees and monarch butterflies.

The grant, part of a $6.8 million USDA grant announcement, also will be used to disseminate best management practices for pollinator conservation in agricultural landscapes.

“The challenges faced by honey bees, wild bees and other flower-visiting insects threaten our food security,” said Rufus Isaacs, MSU entomologist who will be leading the grant. “Addressing this in Michigan is of particular importance. The state is home to a significant honey bee industry that provides local and national pollination services and honey production, and Michigan is a leader in fruit and vegetable production, which depends on these insects for pollination.”